Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson knows an arrest last month could hamper his NFL future. But he's hopeful about getting another opportunity.

Simpson, arrested Nov. 9 on suspicion of drunken driving, has a hearing Thursday. He faces the possibility of jail time because one of the terms of his probation from a 2011 drug-related incident was abstaining from alcohol.

Simpson becomes a free agent in March. His preference is to re-sign with Minnesota.

"I'm pretty sure it's a red flag, but I don't want teams to judge me off my past but my future," Simpson said. "I have good character. There's nothing they have to worry about ... I definitely want to be back here next year. I just like the surroundings here. I like the people of Minnesota. This is the place that I want to be. Hopefully, we can work things out and I can be back."

Simpson is one of 18 impending free agents with an uncertain future following Minnesota's 14-13 win over Detroit in Sunday's finale at the Metrodome. Several spoke after the game about a desire to return.

Running back Matt Asiata is an exclusive rights free agent. Asiata said after rushing for 115 yards on 14 carries against the Lions that he wants to return, and there's a good chance of that happening considering he can be had for a minimum salary.

Allen and Williams are the most decorated free agents on the team. But Allen, who made $14.3 million, and Williams, who earned $4.9 million, each might have to take a pay cut to return.

"You always want to return where you started, but you know it's a business thing," said Williams, the team's longest-tenured player at 11 seasons. "I'll worry about it when free agency starts."

Even if Williams, 33, joins another team, he plans to "definitely retire as a Viking."

Cook is another defensive starter who becomes a free agent. But after a shaky season, there's a good chance he won't be re-signed.

"I would love to come back," he said. "But I can't control that."

Another defensive starter with a questionable Vikings future is linebacker Erin Henderson, even though he's under contract for next season. Henderson left the team due to personal reasons and ended up not playing in games Nov. 24 at Green Bay and Dec. 1 against Chicago. He was replaced by Audie Cole at middle linebacker before moving to the outside and then returning to the middle after Cole suffered a season-ending ankle injury Dec. 22 at Cincinnati.

"I think I showed improvement and I handled adversity, dealing with the situation," said Henderson, who wants to return.

Henderson's troubles include being arrested in November on suspicion of drunken driving. But he does not face the same legal difficulties as Simpson, Minnesota's second-leading receiver with 48 catches for 726 yards.

Simpson, while with Cincinnati, was arrested in 2011 and later admitted in court he had mailed two pounds of marijuana to his Kentucky home. He plea-bargained in 2012.

Simpson was sentenced to 15 days in jail, fined $7,500, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and placed on three years probation, which included not being allowed to drink alcohol. Simpson signed with the Vikings in 2012 and was suspended by the NFL for the first three games of that season due to the incident.

"I just got to keep moving and keep the faith, and my lawyer is going to do what he can to help me in my situation, and we'll go from there," Simpson said. "I just want to be a great person and just keep working in the community and just help the people that I can."